Birmingham Estates Association

PRO Opinion for Project:

This is a good thing for the city.  The lights are not just for Brother Rice.  We hold a flag football, soccer, and volleyball league in Southfield (used to be in Troy) for most of the youth residents in Southfield, but I convinced them to bring it to Southfield.  We were often forced to play at Groves because they had lights.  Which was the big issues for our southfield league  We have been fighting with Park and Rec to have a lighted park like all the other major cities for nearly three years now. 

We lucked out by having someone other than our city pay for the improvements.  We control the field and this will help our city when it comes to having jazz in the evening or other festive events for adults.  The lighting is the process by which we can start moving our city to a young and cool city. 

Also, the effort we have been pushing the city on is having an area where we can have outdoor basketball courts that are protected and manned.  One of the key issues was having a place for the Gus Macker to help raise funds for projects in the city.  To do somethign like that we will need a professional area and lights. 

As far as traffic congesstion in the area, I don't think that will be as impactful as already exisits in other areas. 

This is something our city.  If we are going to make our city more appealing to young families we need to have a safe evening alternative to the bar and club scene for young adults.  A sports area is just the key.

Southfield Resident

thanks for the reply tracey.

Below is a one page write-up distributed to some local residents.  It details the Inglenook Park proposal.

Neighbors,

Recently, you may have received a meeting notice from the City of Southfield regarding Inglenook Park.  The meeting is to be held this Wednesday, Sept. 10, from 5:30pm – 7:00pm in Inglenook Park.

The notice describes potential improvements to the park but the notice does NOT describe how the development will change the character of the park as a result of that development.

Brother Rice High School wants to sponsor development so they can use the park as their home baseball field.  Local citizens are wondering by what justification does a private, religious high school in Bloomfield Hills lay claim to our local Southfield park?

Their goal is to create a premier baseball facility that will have a high utilization rate.  Some of the issues of greatest concern are:

• Lights are to be added so games can go late into the night.

• Brother Rice is a high school and many more people will attend games.  Many of the spectators will be teenagers – and that creates behavioral concerns.

• Negative consequences include increased traffic volume, congestion, light pollution, overflow parking into the neighborhood north of the park, and crowd noise.

• The issue of a loud public address system needs attention.  Similarly for bands, air horns, drums, and other noise sources.

• One city council member has expressed concern over concurrently using light towers as cell phone towers.  Also, light towers can be visually obtrusive.

• Building a twenty-foot wall in center field is part of the proposal.  If this is to be a solid wall there may be a potential security concern.  If walkers and runners on the park track are isolated and hidden from view by the wall, they may be placed at risk.

• Expanded parking comes at the expense of giving up recreational park land.

These are some of the issues we need to consider.  Come to the meeting in Inglenook Park on Wednesday, Sept. 10 from 5:30pm – 7:00pm to express your opinion to the city administration.  If you cannot get there for the start then come later.

After the meeting, do not hesitate to call the Mayor’s Office (Brenda Lawrence): 248-796-5100.  You might also contact members of the City Council.  Check the Southfield website.

FYI - The telephone number on the city’s Wednesday meeting notice is for the Director of Parks and Recreation.

If you have other questions you can contact local homeowner:

Richard Meltzer

richard_meltzer@hotmail.com

Like all such things in life, the degree to which residents are upset about the proposal is related to the degree they are affected by it.

Those directly impacted care the most - and are the most sensitive to the downside consequences (including diminshed property values).  Those who are distant from the park have the luxury of discounting the impact.